Three lovely Swedish girls, Barbara, Lena and Marianne, leave their homes to try to make Paris keep the promise it holds out to young people all over the continent, perhaps all over the world.

The film details 214. climactic hours in the lives of our 3 girls.

Lena and Barbara share a sparsely-furnished room in a weird old house in Paris. In their rickety dwelling, such matters as brewing coffee or locating water to wash with are difficult feats. They are broke, owe the rent and can see no way of making money. But come what may, they want to stay in Paris.

All Barbara's studies have been overlooked in the stimulating atmosphere and her parents refuse to send her any more money. Putting aside her nervousness, she agrees to pose at an art school for a few francs. Afterwards, sitting exhausted at a students' cafe, she is bewitched by the compelling eyes and caressing fingers of a young Frenchman who joins her at the table. They leave for his flat,

where they satisfy this sudden physical hunger. Left alone, Barbara discovers a bruise on her neck and to hide it she spends her hard-earned money on a scarf. She takes some drinks to hide her loneliness and depression.

The blonde, pony-tailed Lena had been earning a little money by looking after a small girl in the afternoons, while the child's mother entertained her lover. Since her services will no longer be required, she asks another Swedish friend, Marianne, to help her find some work.

Marianne is in love and she and her French boy friend eke out an existence by pasting up posters. She is unable to help Lena, who then tries for work at a laundry. She is taken on and folds unending piles of diapers. Anything, to stay in Paris.

Lena returns to their room to find Barbara highly nervous after the day's experiences. Lena is furious when she notices the new scarf, for they still have no money for the rent. In anger, she goes for a walk and meets some jazz musicians who take her dancing in a cellar jazz club. This is the Paris she loves.

The kittenish Marianne and her true love pack their few belongings and leave for a new life in the country, where he will work on his uncle's farm. As they speed through the darkened streets of Paris, we realize that here is one Swedish girl whose dream of romance has come true.

Barbara, however, cannot imagine how she can ever make a living. Her experiences of Paris have only served to make her bitter. Disillusioned, she decides to leave Paris. But in her place we see yet another Swedish girl arriving in the city of her dreams, her eyes full of wonder and excitment. What will Paris have in store for her?